Agrometeorological and Agronomic Characterization of Megathyrsus Grasses Cultivated in Tropical Humid and Semi-Arid Conditions: A Multivariate Approach.

Variability in climatic conditions of low-latitude tropical grass cultivation can affect forage production dynamics. Pasture ecosystems are complex and preferably studied from a multifactorial point of view through multivariate approaches. Therefore, in this study, we characterized different growing conditions for grasses of the Megathyrsus genus through studies conducted in tropical humid and semi-arid conditions. We applied principal component, canonical correlation, and discriminant function analyses to the measurements of agronomic and agrometeorological variables in six studies with Guinea and Massai grasses. The principal component analysis, through the climatic characterization by the first principal component, reflects the contrast between water availability and nitrogen variables and energy supply. Agronomic characterization occurred through the distinction between the density of tillers, forage accumulation, and increase in height, versus the accumulation of stems and dead material. The canonical correlation analysis generated a correlation coefficient of 0.84 between the agronomic and agrometeorological variables. There was a contrast between the dead material accumulation and the other agronomic variables, while the agrometeorological variables showed characteristics similar to the first principal component. Discriminant function 1, with 70.36% separation power, distinguished the cultivation conditions based on the study locations. Grass cultivars were differentiated by discriminant function 2, with a 19.20% separation power. From a multivariate variability analysis, despite the similarities of radiation and temperature in the regions studied, the availability of water and nutrients and measurements of agronomic variables can aid in future modeling studies on forage production.

Effective combined antiretroviral therapy provides partial immune recovery to mycobacterial antigens in vertically infected, BCG-vaccinated youth living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the cytokine response by PBMC of youth living with HIV (YLHIV) under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) antigens. METHODS: PBMC from 20 Brazilian YLHIV under cART with long-term (≥1 year) virological control, and 20 healthy controls were cultured for 24-96 h under stimulation with BCG, Mtb lysates, ESAT-6 and SEB. We measured TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-17 in culture supernatants using a cytometric bead array. RESULTS: Controls had higher IFN-γ production at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h upon stimulation with BCG lysate, plateauing at 48 h (Median = 1991 vs. 733 pg/mL; p = 0.01), and after 48-72 h of stimulation with Mtb lysate, plateauing at 48 h (3838 vs. 2069 pg/mL; p = 0.049). YLHIV had higher TNF-α production at all time points upon stimulation with ESAT-6, with highest concentration at 36 h (388 vs. 145 pg/mL; p = 0.02). Within the YLHIV group, total CD4 T cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio were associated with IFN-γ response to Mtb lysate and ESAT-6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Even under long-term cART, YLHIV seem to have a suboptimal T-helper-1 response to mycobacterial antigens. This can be explained by early immunodeficiency in vertical infection, with lasting damage.

Microclimate and animal thermal comfort indexes in different silvopastoral system arrangements in Caatinga.

The objective was to evaluate the microclimate and animal thermal comfort indexes in silvopastoral system in the Brazilian semiarid region with different woody cover levels within Caatinga trees. The experiment was carried out at the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit of the Federal Institute of Science and Technology of Ceará, Campus Limoeiro do Norte, in Chapada do Apodi, CE, in 2018. The treatments were forage grown under woody cover of 46.15% (SS46), forage grown under woody cover of 30.00% (SS30), and forage grown under woody cover of 17.64% (SS18). The evaluations were carried out during three consecutive days, in the vegetative, transition, and dormancy periods at 6 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.. First, the microclimate variables, relative air humidity (%), wind speed (m s-1), dry bulb temperature (°C), wet bulb temperature (°C), black globe temperature (°C), and dew point temperature (°C), were obtained for subsequent calculation of black globe temperature and humidity index and radiant thermal load (W m-2). SS46, SS30, and SS18 systems had no differences of black globe temperature and humidity index and radiant thermal load in the sun. There were significant reductions in black globe temperature and humidity index and radiant thermal load within the trees promoting improvement in the thermal environment at times of higher radiation load. The trees promoted better conditions of animal thermal comfort in all silvopastoral arrangements and periods of the year.

Sentidos da violência psicológica contra idosos: experiências familiares / Meanings of elderly psychological violence: families experiences

Objetivou-se analisar os sentidos da violência psicológica contra idosos para integrantes de um grupo de convivência para a terceira idade. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, com três grupos focais integrados por 22 idosos, sendo 19 mulheres e três homens, com idades entre 61 e 84 anos. Os dados foram analisados por meio das práticas discursivas e organizados em quatro categorias indicativas dos sentidos produzidos em torno das experiências sofridas nas famílias: falta de compreensão/paciência diante das limitações, cerceamento da autonomia, não reconhecimento das potencialidades e repetição de padrões familiares abusivos. Os resultados explicitam a violência psicológica cotidiana e sutil, capaz de causar dano, assim como a presença de uma linha tênue entre o que pode ser considerado cuidado e o que vem a ser percebido como violência.

The aim of the research was to analyze the meanings of violence against the elderly among members of a coexistence group for the third age. Qualitative research was carried out through three focus groups. A total of 22 elderly participated, being three men and nineteen women, aged between 61 and 84 years. The data were analyzed through discursive practices and organized into four categories indicative of the meanings produced due to the family's experiences: lack of understanding / patience in the face of limitations, restriction of autonomy, failure to recognize potentialities and repetition of abusive family patterns. The results show the daily and subtle psychological violence, capable of causing harm, as well as the presence of a fine line between what can be considered care and what comes to be perceived as violence.

BAVT como manifestação inicial de massa cardíaca em paciente de 74 anos / Atrio-ventricular block as inicial manifestation of cardiac mass in a female, 74 years old pacient: a case report

Mulher, 74 anos, internada por quadro, iniciado há cerca de 10 dias, de dispnéia, astenia progressina e tonteira rotatória. ECG:BAVT. O RX de tórax mostrou importante derrame pleural à esquerda. Laboratório: LDH (Lactato desidogenase) elevado. Ecocardiograma transtorácico: Massa aderida à válvula tricúspide em direção ao VD, ovalada com bordos regulares (2,8 x 2,7 cm). Espaço pericárdico adjacente ao VD ocupado, causando restrição diastólica ao VD. Biópsia miocárdica: linfoma difuso de grandes células B - Burkitt like. Linfomas cardíacos primários são raros, mais comuns em adultos, homens e idosos. Os sintomas são tardios. Em cerca de 23 por cento, há aumento de LDH. Cerca de 14 por cento manifestam-se como BAV. Prognóstico reservado.